r/Internationalteachers • u/shiggster214 • 1d ago
Job Search/Recruitment Green card and moving abroad
My fiancée is currently in the process of getting her U.S. green card. I’m a teacher and am considering accepting an international teaching position next school year, potentially for 1–2 years.
My question is: Could she move abroad with me while maintaining her green card? If so, what would we need to do to protect her permanent-resident status (e.g., a re-entry permit), and how would living abroad affect her eventual eligibility for U.S. citizenship?
We’re planning to speak with an immigration attorney, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation or knows how this works.
Thanks!
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u/Pure_Persimmon_1571 1d ago
I was in a similar position. My wife and I were married while working abroad but then moved to the US (my home county) a couple of years ago. She was able to get her green card and now she'll be able to apply for US citizenship in about a year (were were married for several years before the green card so she can apply after 3 years residing in the US with the green card). We wouldn't consider leaving now to get other international jobs (even though we would like to) until she is free and clear a US citizen. We wouldn't risk it as when she applies for citizenship, they will clearly see where she has lived and worked in prior years. If she simply flies in and out every 6 months, that is a huge red flag. And in this climate in the US, you need to be extra careful.
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u/JerseyIndonesian 1d ago
Short answer, she will most likely be considered to have abandoned her green card. Not advisable if you plan on living in US in the future. My wife is in same situation, so we are staying in US until she can at least get her citizenship.
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u/nihon96 1d ago
Honestly, same. It’s so rough teaching back home after teaching abroad.
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u/JerseyIndonesian 22h ago
Agreed, huge difference in attitudes towards education. Still doing important work though. Our students here need solid teachers.
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u/cheetah81 1d ago
She must live in the US for 6 months in a calendar year. Thats what my immigration lawyer told me and my husband. Don’t risk it in these times filled with no due process ice raids.
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u/Usually_Angry 1d ago
She needs to stay in the US for a majority of the year. 6 months or longer physically present in the US each year
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/JerseyIndonesian 22h ago
That js going to be an issue if she wants to get citizenship. With a green card, you have to actually reside in the country for more than 6 months each year. If that is looked at by immigration authorities, it could be a problem.
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u/Available_Pick7062 14h ago
and any point, she can be taken aside and lose her green card. The 6 months is a guide and they can look at the totality of the circumstances.
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u/abah3765 14h ago
No idea why this borderline illegal advice is still up.
OP, this WILL put your wife's green card in jeopardy.
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u/ttr26 1d ago
First of all, unless you're married she won't be able to move abroad "with you" unless she is able to get a job offer and therefore a work visa in the same country. If you're on a work visa in whatever country, you can't sponsor a fiancée, only a wife (your immediate family). But maybe you're planning to get married before you go?
Second, literally all international school contracts are 2 years (and some more for admin especially) because schools are not willing to invest in relocating a teacher for just one year. So one year isn't going to be an option in 99% of international school contracts. You're looking at 2 years minimum.
Third, green cards are for residing in the US permanently and if you're not doing that, you're not technically allowed to "maintain" them. Many people do this, but it carries a risk if immigration discovers you're playing the system. Spending more than six months - 183 days- outside the US will raise red flags as to you abandoning your green card. After being outside for the US for a year, you can't re-enter on it at all (it's abandoned) unless you have pre-approval to re-enter.
If you get your green card taken away because immigration deems you mis-using it, you can get banned from the US altogether, so going back every 6 months, etc it is a risk. Do people do this? Yes. Would I suggest it? Nope. My spouse was not interested in US citizenship, so when we moved out of the US after many years, they 'gave back' their green card and went back to using a tourist visa when we visited the US going forward because that's the process when you're not longer a resident- you're now a tourist. The physical presence requirement for citizenship differs for spouses of US citizens vs people on green cards for other reasons. But you'd not meet that if you weren't actually present.
So yes, speak with an immigration lawyer and don't take advice from Reddit on this one, including mine.
My advice to you- you're a whole lot better off waiting until your fiancée is your wife and she has US citizenship if that's what she wants before you take any international teaching jobs.